A17384:2736
A commentary
A commentary: or, sermons upon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter wherein method, sense, doctrine, and use, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of divinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.A commentary: or, sermons vpon the second chapter of the first epistle of Saint Peter vvherein method, sense, doctrine, and vse, is, with great variety of matter, profitably handled; and sundry heads of diuinity largely discussed. By Nicholas Byfield, late preacher of God's Word at Isle-worth in Middlesex.
London: printed by Humphrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623London: printed by Humfrey Lownes for George Latham, 1623
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
And the more lamentable is it to observe the unspeakable averseness that is in man, that of all sorts, though they be warned, yet some will on still, and die without wisdom, Job 4.20. and which is yet more, in places where men have the means plentifully, yet what number doth the God of this world keep in blindness, so as they live and die very sots, even in those places where they have had line upon line, and precept upon precept, and yet the people no more instructed then the child new weaned from the breast? Isaiah 28.9. Yea the more fearful is the estate of divers, that they do not only want knowledge, but they reject it, and blaspheme it, as if it were not only unnecessary, but hateful: they love darkness more then light, and therefore their damnation sleepeth not, Joh. 3.19. Job. 21.14.
And the more lamentable is it to obserue the vnspeakeable auersenesse that is in man, that of all sorts, though they be warned, yet some will on stil, and dy without wisdom, Iob 4.20. and which is yet more, in places where men haue the meanes plentifully, yet what number doth the God of this world keepe in blindnesse, so as they liue and die very sots, euen in those places where they haue had line vpon line, and precept vpon precept, and yet the people no more instructed then the childe new weaned from the brest? Esay 28.9. Yea the more fearefull is the estate of diuers, that they doe not onely want knowledge, but they reiect it, and blaspheme it, as if it were not onely vnnecessary, but hatefull: they loue darkenesse more then light, and therefore their damnation sleepeth not, Ioh. 3.19. Iob. 21.14.
But on the other side, so many as have their harts touched from God, let them be warned to avoid ignorance, as they would avoid the death of their souls; let it be hateful to them to be babies in understanding,